[Xotcl] RE: XOTcl as a megawidget framework

[Schofield, Bryan (GE Transportation)]

For anyone that is interested, I've been working on the option handling stuff a little more. The original method of adding tk configurable options is still available, but is now done via the [tkoption addexplicit] command. The new [tkoption add] takes a type and a source object (XOTcl, TK, or other depending on the type) and a series of options. This allows options to be added more easily.

tk option add tkwidget $widgetpath.foo \
   -except { yscrollcommand xscrollcommand } \
   -translate { background listbackground }

As I'm thinking about this, I think it might be a good idea to extract the tk option handling code in to it's own class for better reusability, maybe ConfigurableOptionManager or something.

-- bryan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Schofield, Bryan (GE Transportation) 
> Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 8:53 AM
> To: 'xotcl at alice.wu-wien.ac.at'
> Subject: XOTcl as a megawidget framework
> 
> 
> Hullo -
> 
> This is my first posting to this mailing list. I recently 
> started playing around with XOTcl. I had been using IncrTcl 
> for quite a while, but XOTcl has seemed to get a lot 
> publicity in a few other mailing lists, so I decided to give it a try.
> 
> My first impression of XOTcl is very good. I'm finding myself 
> growing very fond of how classes are defined in XOTcl and I'm 
> loving the dynamic nature of classes and objects in general. 
> Though I have to admit, the "instproc", "instvar", and "my" 
> took a little getting used to and I do miss the protection 
> levels available in IncrTcl, but only a little. Anyway, 
> that's not the real reason I'm posting.
> 
> Has any work gone into making a TK megawidget framework with 
> XOTcl? I spent a little time and came up with a couple of 
> classes that make this possible. Even though this is just a 
> prototype, I'd be very interested in getting some XOTcl'ers 
> feed back on this.
> 
> I've attached a file called xowidget.tcl that contains the 
> megawidget framework package and an example of using it, 
> SearchableListbox.tcl.
> 
> This package, which I've cleverly been calling "xowidget", 
> provides the ability to create an XOTcl object that behaves 
> like a TK widget. It also provides Snit-like method & option 
> delegation to the basewidget, subcomponents, and other 
> objects. Furthermore, the method & option delegation can be 
> multiplexed such that a method or option is propogated to 
> multiple objects and/or tk widgets. I've tried to document 
> how to xowidget in source file, but if something is missing 
> or not clear, please feel free to ask me. Here is a small 
> example of what the syntax is like.
> 
> 
> 
> WidgetClass LabeledButton \
>    -tkwidget frame \
>    -parameter { {foo bar} }
> LabeledButton instproc init args {
>    next
>    my instvar widgetpath
>    # create a label and button in the frame
>    label $widgetpath.l
>    button $widgetpath.b
>    pack $widgetpath.l $widgetpath.b -side left
> 
>    # make the foo parameter an configurable option
>    my tkoption add foo parameter -object [self]
>    # add borderwidth & relief option for the basewidget
>    my tkoption add frameborderwidth widgetproc \
>       -object [self] -asoption borderwidth
>    my tkoption add framerelief widgetproc \
>       -object [self] -asoption relief
>    # add option for the text on the label
>    my tkoption add labeltext tkwidget \
>       -widgetpath $widgetpath.l -asotion text
>    # multiplex background option to the frame, label, and button
>    my tkoption add background widgetproc -object [self]
>    my tkoption add background tkwidget -widgetpath $widgetpath.l
>    my tkoption add background tkwidget -widgetpath $widgetpath.b
>    # wildcard all other options to the button
>    my tkoption add * tkwidget \
>       -widgetpath $widgetpath.b
> 
>    # make the foo parameter command available
>    my tkcommand add foo
>    # wildcard all other commands to the button
>    my tkcommand add * "$widgetpath.b"
> }
> pack [LabeledButton .lb -labeltext Foo -text "Press me" 
> -command doSomething]
> puts [.lb configure]
> .lb invoke
> .lb foo "ack"
> 
> 
> 
> I'm very open to suggestions and comments, critical or 
> otherwise. If there is some interest, I'd be open to 
> enhancing this expiriment to something more.
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> -- bryan
> 
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